The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1887-08-18

kindergarten work, and the work in all its
branches is taken up with reference to its
value as mental and moral discipline as
well as its value as knowledge. The class
have learned to fold paper in geometric
forms, and number of movement songs
have been taken up with reference to
using them in the schools.
DIR. Lane, of the University, has small
class in higher mathematics. The work
of this class is not the regular work of
the classroom, but rather the elucidation
of principles. The usual stumbling blocks
of both teacher and pupil in this branch
are brought up and discussed The
teachers are constantly warned against
improper methods, and are urged to pre-
sent, instead, vigorously mathematical
ones. Frequent opportunity is given for
questioning as to both methods and prin-
ciples.
Miss Brooks has an enthusiastic class in
gymnastics. The marching and free gym
nastics go on vigorously, in spite of the
heat. Miss Brooks has the executive abil
ity necessary for such work, and, in addi-
ton to her morning hours, gives an extra
fifty minutes to those who wish it, and
WuO are uuuUlb W dblcuu lut
class.
Prof. Gillespie has charge of the pen
manship and bookkeeping. In penman-
ship the class begin like with exercises for
holding the pen and movement exercises.
There Is also practice In the combinations
of elements and principles. The Spen-
cerian system is used. In bookkeeping
Prof. Gillespie expects in the few lessons
he gives to teach the principles and such
practice as will enable teacher to teach
the subject by the aid of, a text book.
Prof. Garrison, of the University, has
been obliged to resign his position as
teacher of grammar, Oh account of i'll
health. He is much regretted, for in the
few days Prof. Garrison taught, he COM
manded his large class by his thorough
acquaintance with the subject he taught
Grammar under him was pleasure. Prof
Bryant, of the City High school, consented
to fill the vacancy and has done so sue
cessfully.
Mrs. Pennybacker, of Tyler, has large
and enthusiastic class in elocution. The
lessons thus far have been upon the forms
of voice, quality, force, stress, breathing
and articulation. On Thursday, to the de-
| light of the class, Mrs. Pennybacker gave
model lesson upon Young Lochinvar.
There has been much practical work
which will undoubtedly be of the greatest
assistance to the class as teachers, for in
no profession does one so need to under
stand the use and care of the voice as in
teaching. Mrs. Penny backer is careful in
her use of gesture. She will give the
class but five gestures, believing that the
correct use and understanding of these is
all that is necessary to enable one to use
the few requisite for true elooution. That
Mrs. Penny hacker is a pupil of Professor
Hamil, one does not need to be told. Her
energy and enthusiasm, as well as her
manner of teaching, bear the indelible
mark of the Hamil School of Oratory.
Mrs. Houses class in primary methods
and work numbers seventy. During the
past week beginning reading and number
work have been taken up. In reading,
Ms. House advocates the script word
method, and clearly and forcibly illus
trates that ideas should precede words.
She presents many devices which Will be
of the greatest assistance to those taking
up primary work for the first time, and
which are profitable to all in their sug-
gestiveness. In number, Mrs. House en-
ploys the CRUDE method, but bases much
of her work on the plan of Miss Reed as
shown in Wentworth g. Reeds Primary
Arithmetic. In both reading and num-
Der Mrs. House gives model lesson to a
few of the young ladies for the benefit of
the rest of the class, and discusses the
points made as they come up. Mrs.
House sums up the different parts of the
lesson, and the lesson as whole admir-
ably and in way that is calculated to i'm
press it upon the minds of her hearers.
Prof. Lemon, of Marshall, has charge OF
the department of American literature
and English composition. AS yet Prof
Lemon has given but two lectures; one on
"Early American Literature" and one
on "The Knickerbookers."
The educational council, composed OF
the faculty of the normal, county superin'
tendents and teachers, met to discuss the
present school system and law. The first
subject discussed by the council was the
Community and district systems"
County Superintendent Richardson, OF
Lamar county, made comparison of the
two systems, and in clear and logical
manner stated the advantages and dis
advantages of each. Prof. Mcclellan, OF
Nacogdoches, stated the objections raised
by the people of eastern Texas to the
district system. DIR. Baldwin spoke elo-
quently upon the difference between q
district system and the district sys-
TEN, and urged that every teacher
should understand the difference and lent
his influence to the establishment of tn,
district system.
State Supt. Cooper, in short but earn
est talk, stated that four fifths of the chill
dren of the state must be educated in thu
country schools, or remain uneducated
Country schools in Texas, as rule, are il
deplorable condition. While some of thu
country schools in the state are among
the best schools, these are rare exceptions
That the constitution of the state re
auires the establishment and maintenance
: of an efficient system of public fret
schools, but that this has not yet been at
tanned in the system of schools organized
in the counties of the state. He maintain
that this result will never be achieved
under the dual plan of organization which
now exists in the state.
He says that local taxation is essentia
to an efficient system of public schools
and under the community system loca
taxation is impossible. The adoption o
district system is imperatively demande'
by the needs of our schools. The publ
school system was not organized to main
= tain the county government. but to edu